Vaccines and preventable diseases – Part 2

This is Part 2 of our 2-part series on some of the different types of vaccines for children from birth-6 years of age, and some basic information about the preventable diseases they can protect your children from. You can see Part 1 here.

Flu

The flu is very common and can cause fever, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, extreme fatigue, and in severe cassias can lead to an infection in the lungs/pneumonia. It is spread through the air and by direct contact, and can be prevented by the flu vaccine.

Polio

Polio may cause a sore throat, fever, nausea, and headache may be present. Polio may also cause no symptoms, however severe cases can lead to paralysis and death. It is spread through the air, by direct contact, and through the mouth. The IPV vaccine protects against polio.

Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcus may cause no symptoms, or it may cause pneumonia, and infection in the blood, meningitis, and death. Other symptoms of pneumococcal disease may include a combination of a high fever, chills, cough, being short of breath, having pain in the chest, stiffness in the neck, being disoriented, and having a sensitivity to light. It is spread through the air and direct contact. PCV vaccine protects against pneumococcus.

Rotavirus

Rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea for infants and young kids, affects almost every kid worldwide at least once by the time they are 5. It enters through the mouth and can cause severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and dehydration The good news is every infection develops an immunity, but the RV vaccine protects against rotavirus.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis

Diphtheria is transmitted by the air or direct contact and results in a sore throat, mild fever, weakness, swollen glands in neck, and in severe cases, can cause a swelling of the heart, heart failure, coma, paralysis, and death.

Tetanus enters the body through cuts in the skin and causes neck and abdominal muscle stiffness, muscle spasms, fever, and can cause the jaw to “lock” which makes it difficult to open the mouth or swallow. Severe cases can result in broken bones and breathing difficulty, and even death.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, travels by air and direct contact and can cause a severe cough, runny nose, apnea in infants, and in severe cases, pneumonia and death.

The DTaP vaccine protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

Measles, mumps, and Rubella are all transmitted through the air or direct contact. Measles results in a rash, fever, cough, runny nose, pinkeye, and severe cases can lead to brain swelling, lung infection, and death.